Screenwriting : I hate Strong Female Characters by Beth Fox Heisinger

Nice article! The "strong female character" trope almost feels like a misguided overcorrection to me. We clamor for more representation, more balance (and rightly so), but many of the writers who respond to that do so superficially. For me, the core of the issue is (as noted in this article) women don't need to be written as if putting on the mantle of "strong" somehow makes them special and worth our time - they just need to be written as actual people. The idea that female characters somehow aren't interesting or engaging on their own is a fallacy that gets in the way of real, genuine characterization and storytelling.

I've had this same discussion on many an occasion. We don't call them 'strong male' characters. :-P Just write BELIEVABLE PEOPLE!

BURN THE WITCH!

Wow! Well said, Matt! I couldn't agree with you more! :) For me, I say enough about "strength" give me personality, give me representation. I want to see more female characters of all kinds: broken characters, women who operate under their own agency, female characters who affect the world around them, are taken seriously, are shown as human beings. When female characters are talked about and created as just "great characters" and not singled out from one another and given labels, then we'll have truly made progress. ;) Anyway, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the article. I love it. It offers valid, thoughtful commentary on this often well-intended, but unfortunate catch phrase.

beth did you see "Equity"? $400K box office total

Hey, Dan. No, I didn't. It's not showing here on Bainbridge Island. However it's showing in Seattle—but that's a ferry ride for me and not currently convenient. Nonetheless, it looks good! I'd like to see it. It's certainly on my must-see list. The film was featured on the Stage 32 Blog as it was created and written by S32 member, Alysia Reiner: https://www.stage32.com/blog/Sundance-Update-Equity-The-First-Female-Dri.... ;)

A.S. - Big Hollywood Films from Big Hollywood Studios will continue to be made based on what marketing people think that the global marketplace wants. Generally speaking, if that means a 3:1 male-to-female character ratio, and "the usual tropes and cliches", then that's what they'll do, until market demands prove differently. Generally speaking, studios usually are trying to appeal to the broadest global consumer base that they can....some might call that "the lowest common denominator"....and the best way to accomplish that is by going with what has already proven to be successful in the past - and that usually means....well...you know what that usually means. Thankfully, as an alternative, there is the independent filmmaker and independent producer who can make something more unique and different. Some don't, of course, but some do. I've seen a lot of great films this year, last year, and most every past year that didn't open on 2,100 screens and have a massive marketing budget; didn't have a 3:1 male-to-female character ratio and aren't trope and cliche-filled; and didn't have a tie-in to amusement park rides, merchandise, or comic book characters. Long live the independent filmmaker and independent producer! And also long live the Big Hollywood Studio people who break the molds every once in a while and can put out a film that doesn't get them fired. Those people must really put it all on the line as they champion for films that aren't geared for the general masses.

Thanks for the great comments. ;) Well, as a writer and as an audience member I certainly have discovered and enjoy far more profound and well-written characters in smaller films, TV series, foreign films/TV series and definitely on Netflix. And I kindly disagree: As screenwriters I do think we have the power to help move that needle. It all starts on the page, does it not? With that, I wish to see not only more female protagonists, but also sidekicks, villains, secondary characters, background characters, non-speaking characters, mentors, comic relief characters, ALL KINDS of characters who are women. Sorry, but it doesn't take much to change the gender of a character. ALL female characters on screen are relevant. ;)

A.S. - it worked for the film Salt. The role played by Angelina Jolie was originally written for Tom Cruise. It also worked in the film Elysium. The role played by Jodie Foster was initially written as a male role. And so was the store manager role in The 40 Year-Old Virgin. Jane Lynch was hysterical, wasn't she? And don't forget Helen Mirren in the remake of Arthur. And how could I forget Grace Jones in Conan the Barbarian? I can't, because in the comic book her character was a male. Ditto for Dina Meyer in Starship Troopers. It was be completely remiss of me not to mention Sigourney Weaver - three times, in fact. In Alien, Vantage Point, and The TV Set. And how could I not mention Lucy Liu in Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever? Okay, I will. And even though it's Sunday, Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday was originally a male in the play that the film is based on. Oh drat - did I just end a sentence with a preposition? I'd name a few more, but I have to adjust my jock. I mean, my bra. I mean, my.....my....my.....heh-heh. MAJOR CONGRATS TO ELENA DELLE DONNE!!!!!!!

For cryin' out loud, A.S., I'm just saying... YES! Perhaps when writing consider making some of your characters female. This thread is about female characters, is it not? And part of the problem is lack of representation. One lead female character isn't enough. Ummm, I thought you read the article? Lol! ;) Bill, thanks for listing some great examples of gender changes made in film. ;) And, again, as far as background or secondary characters... Perhaps mix it up. Does everyone have to be male? There are female cops, firefighters, doctors, pilots, engineers, athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, politicians, etc, etc, etc, etc... Women are everywhere. We make up 51% of the human race. And yet we still have a 3:1 ratio of men to women on screen—although I've read it's more like 5:1. So, YES! Perhaps when writing consider making some of those secondary characters female in your script. It's not hard to do. A.S., perhaps take a look at the website: SeeJane.org. It shares a lot of information about the lack of gender equality in media.

Beth The Industry wont change because the people making the decisions are primarily white men. I d guess about 80-85% of Studio & Network executives and Talent Agency Owners are white men, similar religious background. Last year's Oscars nominations are examples of what Hollywood Industry Insiders want to see. The bright side, bus loads of Dreamers arrive to LA daily to join the Show Biz fraternity. Some do make a difference.

Dan M, there are other options other than "Hollywood." ;)

Oh, and ELENA DELLE DONNE is amazing!!! Whatta performance in Rio!

Beth: She is definitely a super athlete, and a world-class human being. And she's been fighting Lyme disease throughout her collegiate and professional basketball career. If you or anyone else haven't read the article she wrote about her sister Lizzie, who was born deaf and blind, and with cerebral palsy, you should give it a read. She gave up her first college scholarship and doesn't play overseas basketball in the off-season to be with her sister. What a great person and what a great family. I hope she runs for mayor of Chicago after her playing days with the Chicago Sky. She is destined for major greatness after her sports career. I would bet that the major studios will have a bidding war over her life story, and that she'll probably donate the money to her foundation. Here's a link to the article. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/elena-delle-donne-sister/ MAJOR CONGRATS TO ELENA DELLE DONNE!!!!!!

That is the trick: getting a script into the right hands, or perhaps building a team around a project. ;) A.S., your screenplays sound great! Congratulations on winning eight awards! Yes, it is wonderful to receive insights to help create authentic characters and stories. I write female driven stories as well. Anyway, I only mentioned the SeeJane website in the spirit of sharing information and ideas. Who knows, perhaps it will be helpful to someone else. My comments here are given (of course) in generalizations and meant as "food for thought." Thanks for sharing your insights and opinions. ;)

A.S. - I too commend you for your writing. This isn't directed at you, and I'm not trying to be condescending or argumentative directly towards anyone, but there are huge physiological and mental differences in men and women. "Duh...right, Professor Obvious," said everyone. But without going deeply into the major mental difference...it has a lot to do with the different way that neurons in the brain are connected for men and women. That's not a stereotype - that's a fact and that's why women and men process certain types of stimuli and external conditions very differently. When male writers "miss it" if they are writing a female character...because they are writing in a way that a male would mentally process something, and not a female....that kinda blows....which is why, when watching a film with me, my past girlfriends would at times comment on a female character and say something like "that's not how a women would do that", or "that's not how a women would respond." It would probably be a good idea for male writers whose stories try to portray complex female characters in realistic ways to read Louann Brizendine's The Female Brain. Good luck and Happy Writing, Everybody! MAJOR CONGRATS TO ELENA DELLE DONNE!!!!!